Alligator Cafe

HopStop

View on Large Map
Get Directions

3 people have posted a review, snapped a photo, checked in, or tipped this place. Use your voice!

+ Add Photos

00000 - 00000 of 00000

+ Add A Photo

00,000 of 00,000

4416 Live Oak St. Dallas, TX 75204

214-821-6900

Website

2 User reviews Write A Review

Dallas Observer
Recommended
Best Cajun Restaurant
Award Winner 2010

Cuisine(s): Cajun, Creole, Seafood

Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm

Price: $

Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards
Attire: Casual

Features: Takeout

Serving: Dinner, Lunch

Entertainment: Live Entertainment
Alcohol: Beer/Wine

Reservations: Accepted, Not Necessary

Parking: Lot Available

Description

A perennial winner of the Observer's "best Cajun" honor, Alligator Café is a counter-service take on South Louisiana cuisine. The restaurant"s a reliable source of boiled crawfish come mudbug season, and the popular pies tend to sell out before closing time, the East Dallas restaurant"s good cheer and boudin balls have won over eaters. The Cajun eatery also offers occasional live blues on the weekends from the likes of local luminaries like Hash Brown.

2010 | Best Cajun Restaurant

The Alligator Café doesn't serve hurricanes, New Orleans' most popular cocktail. The chef-owned Cajun restaurant only serves beer and wine, but that's a Big Easy indiscretion easily overlooked because the food is always so damn good. Chef Ivan Pugh has crafted a spot-on menu of Cajun and Creole staples with a few unfamiliar surprises. We like to start with an order of fried green tomatoes or boudin balls and end with bread pudding or sweet potato pecan pie. For the main course, we... More »
2010 | READERS' PICK BEST CAJUN RESTAURANT

The Alligator Cafe More »
2009 | Best Cajun Restaurant

What can we say There's a lot of half-assed gumbo sold in this town, but Alligator Café ladles out a rich, reeking stew that oozes bayou. Their red beans and rice remind you that this was never meant to be an elegant dish, but something to fill working-class bellies. And, of course, there are mudbugs in season and gator meat if you wish to venture in that direction. Their fried green tomatoes feel like they were made in some old skillet by some old grandma. It's a straightforward,... More »
2008 | Best Cajun Restaurant

Alligator-skin wallpaper, green. Lots of napkins. And helpful hints: pinch the tail, suck the head. Who'd a-thunk Cajun could be so Freudian Such is the power of the crawdad. And of the Alligator Café with its long ropes of thick and greaseless fried alligator tail, soothing and swarthy gumbo with rings of fresh scallion embedded in this Cajun lava, plates of fried green tomatoes covered with shredded Parmesan on a bed of lettuce, and the heartiest damn red beans and rice your... More »
2007 | Best Fried Catfish

The whole fried catfish at Alligator Café never ceases to inspire envy in other diners who didn't have the sense to order it. First, it's large. The breading is perfect: fried golden cornmeal so fresh and crisp the meat inside is still steaming. Dip each yummy piece in cocktail sauce, tartar sauce or alligator sauce. Just when you think you've gotten all the juicy morsels, you discover there's a whole 'nother side o' fish to tackle. The catfish basket comes with crispy French fries... More »
2005 | Best Cajun Restaurant

People who work downtown and in East Dallas pack The Alligator Café ("Quick & Cajun") for lunch and post-work munchies. Yes, they do serve alligator--fried, grilled, blackened and in jambalaya, gumbo and po-boys. But the best bets are shrimp-and-oyster gumbo, followed by a basket of fried shrimp or whole catfish. Sides go beyond French fries--dirty rice, fried green tomatoes, new potato chive salad and spicy red beans and rice. You can even drive through for a lunch deal: half a... More »
2005 | Best Root Beer

There are people who will come to fisticuffs when debating who makes the best root beer: A&W, Barq's, IBC or Mug. Pedestrian, we say. If you've tasted homemade root beer, nothing manufactured can compare. Thank goodness for Ivan Pugh, the chef at East Dallas' Alligator Café, which makes its own root beer and cream soda at the restaurant. Served from the soda fountain in Styrofoam cups too big for the average car cup holder, Alligator Café's root beer is just right--sweet, but... More »
2005 | Best Cajun Restaurant

People who work downtown and in East Dallas pack The Alligator Caf� ("Quick & Cajun") for lunch and post-work munchies. Yes, they do serve alligator--fried, grilled, blackened and in jambalaya, gumbo and po-boys. But the best bets are shrimp-and-oyster gumbo, followed by a basket of fried shrimp or whole catfish. Sides go beyond French fries--dirty rice, fried green tomatoes, new potato chive salad and spicy red beans and rice. You can even drive through for a lunch deal: half a muffaletta and ... More »

On Fat Tuesday, Local Chefs Break Down the Fine Art and High Science of Making Gumbo

By Lauren Drewes Daniels | Tue, February 21, 2012

With Fat Tuesday upon us, gluttony is the single goal of the day. While lots of shenanigans will surely ensue, as they do every Tuesday in this city, don't forget to fill your ulcerated tummy with a b... More »
Alligator Cafe Lends Help to Its Cajun Brothers and Sisters

By Hanna Raskin | Mon, July 26, 2010

Alligator Cafe, a Cajun restaurant in East Dallas, is dedicating 10 percent of its sales each Tuesday to the Gulf Coast relief effort. "We're hoping to collect about $15,000," says Alligator Cafe man... More »
Alligator Café

By Alice Laussade | Thu, August 28, 2008

People eating fried whole catfish with tails and everything count: 4 Cop count: 3 When you're driving around Dallas looking for a place to eat lunch on the cheap, you've gotta know what you're looking for. If the place has fancy freakin' awnings ... More »

Like (0) Dislike (0)

dallasobserverbestof | Dallas, TX | 193 Reviews

| Wed, May 6, 2009

Alligator-skin wallpaper, green. Lots of napkins. And helpful hints: pinch the tail, suck the head. Who'd a-thunk Cajun could be so Freudian? Such is the power of the crawdad. And of the Alligator Caf� with its long ropes of thick and greaseless fried alligator tail, soothing and swarthy gumbo with rings of fresh scallion embedded in this Cajun lava, plates of fried green tomatoes covered with shredded Parmesan on a bed of lettuce, and the heartiest damn red beans and rice your stomach ever rumbled to. Yes, Alligator, blow my Freudian crater.
Like (0) Dislike (0)

sfranch | Dallas, TX | 244 Reviews

| Wed, May 12, 2010

Real cajun cooking, probably the best I've found in Dallas to date. Their red beans and rice are killer!

Main Menu

New Orleans Starters

$5.95

Fried Green Tomatoes
fresh green tomatoes hand battered in buttermilk and cracker crumbs and fried to perfection

$5.95

Boudin Balls
a combination of braised pork, rice, spices and herbs battered and fried to perfection.

$5.95

Fried Pickles
pickle chips hand battered in flour and fried crispy. served with ranch and 1000 island dressing

$6.95

Calamari
thinly sliced squid steak, hand-battered and tossed with lemon and pepper.

$10.95

Crab Claws
fresh blue crab served in a lemon white wine beurre blanc sauce served with warm garlic french bread

$6.95

Alligator Boudin
fresh alligator, pork, rice, and spices made in-house and served on a bed of collard greens

Fresh Salads
Add An A La Carte Item To Any Salad

Small $3.49
Large $6.49

House Salad
romaine and iceberg lettuce, cucumber, red pepper, celery, tomato, black olive, and homemade croutons

Small $3.49
Large $6.49

Caesar Salad
romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, croutons, and homemade caesar dressing

Large $7.95

Greek Salad
romaine and iceberg lettuce, olives, capers, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, feta cheese, and lemon herb vinaigrette

Large $9.95

Catfish-ranch Salad
a large version of our side salad topped with blackened catfish and ranch dressing

Large $8.95

Muffaletta Salad
iceberg and romain lettuce topped with ham, salami, provolone cheese, olive salad, tomatoes, and croutons

Specialty Entrees

$14.95

Atchafalaya
blackened or fried catfish fillets topped with your choice of crawfish or shrimp éttouffée and served over white rice

$11.95

Cajun Fettucine
hand made spicy pasta tossed with bell pepper, red onion, andoullie sausage in a roasted pepper cream sauce topped with grilled chicken

$12.95

Grilled Salmon
served over penne pasta tossed with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and creole cream sauce

$12.95

Crawfish Enchiladas
grilled vegetables, crawfish tails, and jack cheese stuffed in corn tortillas and topped with spicy cream sauce served with dirty rice and red beans

$11.95

Shrimp Ettouffée
generous portion of shrimp, vegetables, and fresh herbs in a rich sauce over rice

$11.95

Crawfish Éttouffée
generous portion of crawfish, vegetables, and fresh herbs in a rich sauce over rice

$12.95

Alligator & Chicken Jambalaya
fresh alligator, chicken, andoullie sausage, tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion, celery, and green onion tossed in a tomato based creole sauce with white rice

$11.95

Shrimp Or Chicken Creole
shrimp or chicken with tomatoes, peppers, celery, onions, creole in sauce served with rice

$14.95

Cajun Baby Back Ribs
one pound of dry rubbed prime baby back ribs grilled and slow cooked to fork tender perfection topped with house made sweet and spicy bbq sauce and served with sweet potato fries and coleslaw

$13.95

Pasta Orleans
crawfish, mushrooms, shallots, garlic, white wine, & gourmet pasta in a spicy alfredo sauce topped with grilled chicken and parmesan cheese

$14.95

Catfish Ponchertrain
fried or blackened catfish topped with crawfish in our signature ponchertrain sauce and served over dirty rice

$11.95

Blackened Tilapia
fresh tilapia blackened with our signature spice & topped with lots of shrimp in a rich creamy shrimp sauce served over white rice

$11.95

Vegetarian Cajun Pasta
bell pepper, mushrooms, tomatoes, red onions, garlic, shallots, green onions, and broccolli tossed with your choice of red pepper cream sauce or creole sauce

(10) $7.95
(20) $14.95
(30) $19.95

Chicken Wings

$7.95

Cajun Or Regular Chicken Strips (4)
your choice: hand-battered chicken strips or have them tossed in our hot sauce - served with french fries and bleu cheese or ranch dressing

Gumbo
Always Made In-house, Our Gumbo Is A Combination Of A Slow Cooked Dark Roux Combined With The Holy Trinity Of Cajun Cookin' (celery, Bell Pepper, And Onion, ) Green Onion, Fresh Okra, Bay Leaves, Herbs, Spices, Chicken Stock, And Love. We Then Simmer It For Four Hours And Then Add Your Favorite Ingredients Which Follow:

Cup $5.95
Bowl $7.95

Alligator, Crawfish, & Andoullie Sausage

Cup $5.95
Bowl $7.95

Shrimp, Crab & Oyster

Cup $4.95
Bowl $6.95

Chicken & Andoullie Sausage

Fried Seafood
We Offer A Bounty Of Homemade Sauces For Your Dipping Enjoyment Which We Will Bring You 2 At A Time. They Include: Tarter, Gator, Or Cocktail Sauce, Traditional Remoulade, Ranch, Honey Mustard, Sweet & Spicy Bbq, Lemon Garlic, Blue Cheese, And About Any Hot Sauce We Can Find. Served With French Fries & Hush Puppies.

$9.95

Shrimp (6)

$10.95

Alligator Tail

$10.95

Crawfish Tails

$10.95

Oysters

$10.95

Catfish Whole Or Fillets (2)

$6.95

Catfish Nuggets

Seafood Platters

$17.95

The Bayou Platter
a generous serving of always fresh american alligator, crawfish tails, and catfish served with french fries, and hushpuppies

$17.95

The Gulf Platter
brought to us by our brothers on the gulf coast with a generous amount of fresh oysters, shrimp, & crab claws served with french fries & hushpuppies

A La Carte
All A La Carte Items Can Be Grilled, Blackened Or Fried And Added To Any Dish On Our Menu.

$2.75

Chicken Breast

$3.75

Catfish Fillet

$2.75

Shrimp (2)

$7.00

Salmon

$4.75

Pork Chop

$3.75

Popcorn Shrimp

$4.25

Alligator

$5.75

Tilapia

$4.00

Crawfish

$4.25

Fried Oysters

$3.25

Chicken Strips (2)

$4.25

Fried Calamari

Sandwiches, Burger, & Po-boys - Po-boys
On French Bread With Lettuce & Tomato Served With French Fries Or One Regular Side

$8.95

Chicken
your choice: blackened, grilled, or fried

$9.95

Catfish
your choice: blackened, grilled, or fried

$8.95

Fried Green Tomato (vegetarian)
description, description, description, description, description, description, description

$10.95

Shrimp, Gator, Crawfish Or Oyster
description, description, description, description

Sandwiches, Burger, & Po-boys - These Are Not Po-boys
Served With Fries Or One Regular Side

Half $6.95
Full $9.95
Sub Your Side Item For A Cup Of Gumbo $3.00

Muffaletta
ham, salami, mortadella, provolone cheese and house made olive salad. served warm & toasted

$8.95
Add Provolone, Jack, Or American Cheese For $1.00

Bayou Burger
ground chuck, seasoned well with cajun spices and cooked to perfection; topped with remoulade sauce, shredded lettuce and pickled green tomatoes

$8.95

Louisiana Chicken Melt
spicy fried chicken breast with sautéed peppers, onions, rémoulade sauce, & melted provolone cheese

Grilled Blackened Specialties
Choose Either Blackened Or Grilled Served With Choice Of One Premium And One Regular Side Item

$9.95

Chicken

$11.95

Catfish Or Tilapia

$14.95

Alligator, Salmon Or Shrimp (8)

$12.95

Center Cut Pork Chops

Fresh Side Items - Regular Sides

$2.49

French Fries

$2.49

Steamed Broccoli

$2.49

Coleslaw

$2.49

White Rice

$2.49

Fried Okra

$2.49

Hushpuppies (5)

$2.49

Potato Salad

Fresh Side Items - Premium Sides

$2.99

Garlic Green Beans

$2.99

Red Beans & Rice

$2.99

Dirty Rice

$2.99

Collard Greens

$2.99

Seasonal Fruit Salad

$2.99

White Beans

$2.99

Cucumber & Tomato Salad

Desserts

$5.95

Bread Pudding
w/ whiskey sauce

$5.95

Chocolate Yum-yum
short bread, cream cheese, chocolate pudding, whipped cream & shaved chocolate.

$4.95

Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

$3.95

Banana Pudding

Looking for another city?

Alligator Cafe

4416 Live Oak St. Dallas, TX 75204

214-821-6900

Description

2010 | Best Cajun Restaurant

2010 | READERS' PICK BEST CAJUN RESTAURANT

2009 | Best Cajun Restaurant

2008 | Best Cajun Restaurant

2007 | Best Fried Catfish

2005 | Best Cajun Restaurant

2005 | Best Root Beer

2005 | Best Cajun Restaurant

On Fat Tuesday, Local Chefs Break Down the Fine Art and High Science of Making Gumbo

By Lauren Drewes Daniels | Tue, February 21, 2012

Alligator Cafe Lends Help to Its Cajun Brothers and Sisters

By Hanna Raskin | Mon, July 26, 2010

Alligator Café

By Alice Laussade | Thu, August 28, 2008

dallasobserverbestof | Dallas, TX | 193 Reviews

sfranch | Dallas, TX | 244 Reviews

People Who Like Alligator Cafe